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CODES OF CONDUCT

After attending a number of other Comic Con events & similar events, we have created a list of things that will hopefully help our event go smoothly & be very enjoyable to everyone…..from our Special Guests, to our vendors, artists & those participating in our Art Contest, to all who attend, and finally to our staff & security. We hope that you take the time to read these….yes, I know…..it’s a LOT of reading…..but, we feel it will help us have a SAFE, welcoming, & enjoyable event for all~!

Bathing suit parts must be appropriately covered. No thongs or exposed butt cheeks. Ladies, limited cleavage please and no underboob or sideboob; gentlemen, if wearing spandex please wear a cup.

#2: Helpful hints…….

-Be courteous and cooperative with staff, guests, and fellow attendees. Treat others as you would wish to be treated (or better) and we will all have a great experience!

-Please report convention-related issues, comments, or suggestions to staff. Let us know immediately if your issue is an emergency requiring medical or law enforcement assistance.

-Please plan ahead and take care of everyone in your group/family. Our staff will always do their best to help in an emergency, but we cannot be a substitute for good planning and communication.

-If security or a staff member makes a request of you, please comply or you may be asked to forfeit your badge and leave the premises. You are entitled to review of the instruction by another staff or security member if you feel uncomfortable with the request, and/or if you feel it was inappropriate.

-Always ask cosplayer’s permission before taking pictures of them or video recording them. Same goes for families.

-Keep all activities in the convention hall appropriate for general audience and children. While we want everyone to enjoy themselves, this is a family-friendly convention and attendees must respect that.

#3: If your character/cosplay has some sort of weapon…..make sure it LOOKS like a prop. ALL realistic guns will have orange tips, and will need to be checked & approved by our Security. Also if you have some sort of NERF type weapon, NO darts will be allowed. Likewise if you have an airsoft gun(must have an orange tip), NO ammo/pellets will be allowed. If you have a staff(Like Gandalf), a wooden one will be allowed….but NOT a metal one. If you have a baseball bat(Like Harley Quinn), a wooden one with rubber/fake barb-wire will be allowed, but a wooden one with real barb-wire will NOT be.

#3: Prohibited(NOT ALLOWED) behavior….

-Bullying and harassment (sexual or otherwise) will not be tolerated. People who violate others’ space, privacy, property, or person will be ejected from the event with no refund. Staff or Security can and will contact local law enforcement if warranted.

-The Fremont Rec Center has a no-smoking policy, including the use of e-cig or vaping products on the entire property, not just inside. We will have an area set up in the South parking lot for smoking. That said….NO illegal substances will be allowed at the event or on the property.

– Alcohol is NOT allowed at the event. If you are openly intoxicated you will be asked to leave the show and escorted off the grounds by our security staff. If need be, the Fremont Police Department will be involved.

-Lewd outfits are prohibited and all clothing must be street legal. Staff members have the final say in what is appropriate and individuals may be asked to change their attire or leave the premises if necessary.

-Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times, no exceptions. Runic Forge Productions & the Newaygo County Comic Con is not responsible for the care of children, family, friends, etc. Please do not expect staff or security to substitute as a care-giver of any kind.

-Entrances/exits may not be blocked and the hallways will remain clear.

No loitering in the hallways of the Fremont Rec Center.

-Public displays of affection should be limited for a public setting and in the presence of children. Grotesque behavior, speech, or conduct will be cause for revoking your badge and escort off of the premises as well as reporting to the local police if any laws were violated.

Do not touch/hug/glomp any person without their permission. “Glomp” means:

v, to glomp NOT sexual, it is the action of one person lovingly (and dramatically) attacking another with a hug. A glomp is often preadatory and lies somewhere in the grey area between a caring embrace, and a flying leap to tackle someone.

-No solicitation of any money or selling of products is allowed. If you have a product to sell then you must buy a booth in the vending hall.

-No outside food or beverages are allowed inside the convention hall.

#4: Solicitation Policy for our event….

-The only people allowed to sell anything at the Newaygo County Comic Con will be vendors/artists who have a booth at our event. People who have collections they wish to liquidate may sell those to vendors at the event but not to individual patrons.

-Vendors and clubs that have booth space at the Grand Rapids Comic-Con may distribute printed promotional materials related to their business or club as long as their distribution is limited to their vending space and the free literature table.

-Any person distributing literature of any kind through any distribution method without permission will be removed from the event and their badge revoked without a refund.

-There will be a free literature table that will be available for all patrons to place items about their business venture or event. All materials must be PG in appearance and nature as well as not promote any kind of political, religious, or social agenda. Any items that do not fit these policies will be removed from the free literature table and disposed.

#5: Discrimination Policy at our event…..

Runic Forge Productions & the Newaygo County Comic Con does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, age, handicap, sex, religious affiliation, national origin, or sexual orientation. All individuals are to be treated equally at the Newaygo County Comic Con by all persons associated with the event.

#6: Harassment Policy at our event….

The Newaygo County Comic Con is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable convention experience for everyone. Harassment of any kind, including assault, battery, intimidation, stalking, unwelcome verbal contact, other malicious or harmful behaviors or any other unwelcome contact, will not be tolerated. If you are found to be in violation of this policy punitive measures up to and including confiscation of badge, removal from the convention, and/or police involvement will be taken. Moreover, unlawful activity will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and with the full cooperation of Runic Forge Productions, the parent company of the Newaygo County Comic Con.

The Newaygo County Comic Con is not responsible for solving any interpersonal problems that may arise between individuals attending the event. In general, we can take no action to prevent a person from attending the convention unless that person has made a specific and credible threat toward the convention itself. That said, if you feel threatened, assaulted, harassed, or bullied while attending the convention, please notify staff or security personnel immediately and we will take appropriate action. If need be, also call 911.

Please know that false accusations will be treated as acts of harassment perpetrated by the accuser. Our Staff and Security team will work to resolve the matter in the fairest way possible, but we cannot accept responsibility for resolving interpersonal disputes. In cases without credible evidence, the Newaygo County Comic COn reserves the right to ask both parties to leave the convention if a mutually agreeable resolution cannot be found.

If you feel that a threat exists against your person or your life, we advise you to seek a court-approved Personal Protection Order (PPO) against the individual in question. If you have a previous PPO from a past problem and feel that the individual in which you filed against would attend the Newaygo County Comic Con, we encourage you to inform the event of the potential problem. You must present this order to the co-event coordinator, Lowell Godfrey, in advance of the convention by emailing him at: thorinskald@yahoo.com . We can make sure the individual is contacted and that a request is made for that person to avoid the event.

#7: Cosplay is NOT consent

Examples:

-While many of those who cosplay(dress up like certain characters from comic books, movies, Anime, etc) are fine with others taking their photo(please be polite & ask first)…….just because they may be dressed up like…..Princess Leia from RETURN OF THE JEDI, when she was Jabba the Hutt’s prisoner……that does NOT give you the right to go up and hug/grope/kiss her.

-You always loved the cartoon GI JOE as a kid, and now come face to face with a group that dresses up like those characters. Going up and patting the women dressed up as The Baroness on the backside…..most likely will get you kicked out of the event, or worse, thrown in jail for sexual harassment.

-You absolutely love the Anime, InYuasha, and notice someone at the event is dressed up as the main character. Please don’t just go up & try to hug him…..ask first. And, if the person says, “Sorry, I’m not comfortable with that”….don’t just do it anyway.

Just because someone is dressed up like some character you feel familiar with…..doesn’t mean you KNOW the person. Ask permission…..it’s the polite thing to do. Again, that also goes for taking photos of them….ESPECIALLY if it’s a child….then you ask their PARENT. Those who are caught going around taking photos of children…and ONLY children…..will most likely have the police involved while at our event. Please…..let’s all enjoy the day & have fun….without that happening.